Updated: 22 May 2026 11:40 BST |
7 min read
In his first ever squad selection for a major tournament in his international managerial career, Thomas Tuchel has sent shockwaves through the nation with several huge calls that have angered a host of England fans.
The Three Lions qualified for the 2026 World Cup with a 100% win rate without conceding a single goal and they therefore head into the tournament as one of the favourites for victory, despite the fact they haven’t lifted an international trophy for 60 years.
Tuchel has some of the most talented players in world football at his disposal, but he has left a number of them at home, with several world-renowned stars omitted from England’s squad for this summer’s tournament.
Below, FootballTransfers runs through the biggest talking points from England’s World Cup squad.
Cole Palmer – OUT
Cole Palmer has been omitted from Tuchel’s squad following a hugely underwhelming 2025-26 campaign at Chelsea, which was hugely impacted by an ongoing pubalgia injury.
Based on form and competition for places in the No.10 position, it’s no surprise that Palmer won’t be on the plane, but it’s still a major call given the fact he scored for England in the Euro 2024 final.
Ivan Toney – IN
Ivan Toney’s chances of ever playing for England again looked to be over when he left Brentford to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in 2024.
That fact looked even more certain when he was given a two-minute cameo in his only appearance under Tuchel versus Senegal in June, however he is the biggest surprise inclusion in England’s World Cup squad after netting 42 goals in 49 games this season.
Morgan Gibbs-White – OUT
With Palmer left out, it’s perhaps no surprise that Morgan Gibbs-White also couldn’t force his way into Tuchel’s thinking, with Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze ahead of him in the No.10 pecking order.
However, Nottingham Forest fans, and neutrals, have been left furious by his exclusion after an immense 2025-26 campaign in which he scored 17 goals, provided seven assists and was nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season award.
Jarell Quansah – IN
Jarell Quansah is out-of-sight, out-of-mind at Bayer Leverkusen, but he has been in four of England’s six squads under Tuchel and his inclusion for the World Cup therefore shouldn’t come as a surprise, even though he only has one senior cap.
The former Liverpool defender has performed well in the Bundesliga this season and will provide cover at centre-back and right-back. If the first-choice options stay fully fit, however, he likely won’t get on the pitch.
Lewis Hall – OUT
Lewis Hall’s exclusion is a major surprise considering his immense form for Newcastle this season and the fact that he is more of a natural left-back than Nico O’Reilly, who is expected to start at the World Cup.
Hall performed admirably against Lamine Yamal during Newcastle’s Champions League clash against Barcelona and he felt like a shoo-in for the tournament. His absence could come back to bite England if Dan Burn has to cover at left-back if O’Reilly gets injured.
Jordan Henderson – IN
Jordan Henderson was always going to be included in England’s World Cup squad, with Tuchel admitting his love for the midfielder during his first ever press conference as Three Lions boss.
The Brentford star had fallen completely out of the international picture during the latter stages of Gareth Southgate’s reign, but he will likely be England’s back-up option to Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson this summer, much to the dismay of the general public.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – OUT
Trent Alexander-Arnold never really had a serious chance of going to the World Cup, despite the injury concerns surrounding both Reece James and Valentino Livramento.
The Real Madrid star has only played once for England since the end of 2024 and Tuchel simply doesn’t seem to like him. The ex-Chelsea boss wants a defensively-solid right-back and Alexander-Arnold doesn’t fit that profile.
Djed Spence – IN
This might be the most egregious squad pick of all, with Djed Spence selected despite falling out of favour at Tottenham Hotspur under Roberto De Zerbi and enduring a fairly average campaign in 2025-26.
Tuchel evidently values his versatility to play at right-back or left-back, but the fact he has been included ahead of Alexander-Arnold, Hall and Myles Lewis-Skelly is fairly baffling.
Harry Maguire – OUT
Tuchel essentially admitted that Harry Maguire was extremely unlikely to be included in England’s World Cup squad during the March international break, but the Man Utd star can still feel hard done by given his form for Man Utd this season.
Tuchel has retained faith in players who have been in camp with him throughout the qualifying campaign, such as Burn and Quansah, meaning Maguire and Levi Colwill have both missed out.
Adam Wharton – OUT
Adam Wharton has been one of the best midfielders in the Premier League this season, but Tuchel has instead opted to take Kobbie Mainoo and the aforementioned Henderson as his reserve options in the middle of the park.
The Crystal Palace star is yet to establish himself as a regular at international level, however his passing ability is something that England could sorely miss this summer.
Phil Foden – OUT
Phil Foden simply didn’t deserve to go to the 2026 World Cup given the other options in his position and his form this season, but it was still a major call from Tuchel.
Two years ago, Foden won the PFA Premier League Player of the Season award and was seen as the heir to Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City. Unfortunately, his career has nosedived since that moment and, having failed to ever display his best form in an England shirt, he arguably won’t be missed in North America.
England’s 2026 World Cup squad in full
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), John Stones (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, on loan from Manchester United), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)
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